[[quoteright:296:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zcars_5369.jpg]]''Z Cars'' is a British PoliceProcedural series that ran for nearly 800 episodes from 1962 to 1978. It broke new ground in realistic police drama, bridging the cozy CopShow ''Series/DixonOfDockGreen'' and the gritty ''Series/TheSweeney''.

In 1967, after a year in hiatus (during which Johns and Windsor moved on to star in the spin-off ''Series/SoftlySoftly''), ''Z Cars'' was relaunched with a new format and an almost completely new cast. The only characters to make the transition were Constables Weir and Lynch; Weir left a few years later, but Lynch remained a regular character to the end.

The title of the series refers to the radio callsigns used by police patrol vehicles in the series.

''Z Cars'' had numerous spin-offs, all featuring Charlie Barlow, and many teaming him with John Watt.

No relation to Music/ZZTop or the CoolCar from their videos.

!!''Z Cars'' provides examples of:

* BackForTheFinale: Charlie Barlow returned to the series after years away for the series finale, which also featured guest appearances by several members of the original cast [[YouLookFamiliar playing new characters]].* CowboyCop: "Fancy" Smith.* DomesticAbuse: Once shown as a problem even good coppers are prone to.* TheInspector: DCI Barlow* NoCommunitiesWereHarmed: Newtown is Kirkby; the nearby city of Seaport is Liverpool.* OopNorth: Set in the Lancashire/Merseyside area.* PoliceProcedural* {{Retool}}: Following a year in hiatus, the series was relaunched in 1967 with a new format and an almost completely new cast.----